Tigers trade C Ivan Rodriguez to Yankees

NEW YORK – The Detroit Tigers traded veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Farnsworth on Wednesday.

Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star in the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, will step into the hole in the Yankees’ lineup created by Jorge Posada’s shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is out for the season.

ASU response doesn’t dispute NCAA allegations

MONTGOMERY – Alabama State has released its response to allegations of NCAA rules violations.

The university did not contest any of the 23 alleged violations, most of which involve the football program.

Alabama State submitted the document to the NCAA on June 27. Interim President William Harris cited privacy laws protecting students for the delay in making the documents public in a brief statement Wednesday.

Alabama hires former FSU athletic director

TUSCALOOSA – The University of Alabama has hired former Florida State athletic director Dave Hart.

Hart will work as an associate athletic director and assist Mal Moore in the day-to-day operations of the athletic department. The Tuscaloosa News reported the hiring Wednesday on its Web site.

Hart ran Florida State’s athletic program from 1995 until 2007. He cited philosophical differences with school president T.K. Wetherell in leaving the university.

Hart is a former Alabama basketball player. He spent the first half of this year working as a consultant to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Hart also spent eight years as athletic director at East Carolina.